BOWING OUT: David Miliband steps aside 'so that Ed can lead'

DAVID Miliband stepped down from the frontline of British politics last night following days of speculation after losing the Labour leadership to brother Ed.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Mr Miliband said he would stay as an MP but it was easier for the party to make a “fresh start” if he moved to the backbenches amid concern tensions between the pair could tear the party apart.

“I genuinely believe that I can best serve Ed, the party and the country from a new position,” he said, adding that he would be a “distraction” from his younger brother’s leadership of the party if he remained in the Shadow Cabinet.

As the deadline for MPs to put themselves forward for elections to the Shadow Cabinet passed last night, Doncaster Central MP Rosie Winterton emerged as the surprise Labour Chief Whip as Ed Miliband sought to unify the party by asking current enforcer Nick Brown to step down. Seven more Yorkshire MPs will compete for a place in Mr Miliband’s top team.

Having returned to his London home on Tuesday night, David Miliband said he wanted to “recharge my political and intellectual batteries” after 16 years in positions in and around the top of politics and to have more time to spend with sons Isaac and Jacob and partner Louise.

Mr Miliband said he was confident that stepping back from the frontline was “the right decision for Ed, for the party and for me and the family” as he ended days of speculation which intensified when he was caught on camera making a barbed comment when Ed criticised the Iraq war in his leader’s speech on Tuesday.

“This is now Ed’s party to lead and he needs to be able to do so as free as possible from distraction,” he said. “Any new leader needs time and space to set his or her own direction, priorities and policies. I believe this will be harder if there is constant comparison with my comments and position as a member of the Shadow Cabinet."

Ed Miliband said the door was open for David to return in the future, adding: “While it would obviously have been fantastic to have him serving in my Shadow Cabinet, I think he has made a thoughtful and gracious decision.

“Thoughtful for his family and the time he can have with them, and gracious in terms of the future of our party.”

Shadow Cabinet race: Page 7.

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